CONVICTED: Michael Adebolajo has appealed against his life sentence [PA/AP]

Michael Adebolajo, 29, was handed a whole life term in February after butchering Fusilier Rigby close to Woolwich Barracks, south east London on May 22 last year.

The Judicial Office confirmed today that Adebolajo would be appealing his whole-life term, which if left to stand would mean he would die behind bars.

Michael Adebowale, 22, was also jailed for murder of the 25-year-old and the judge sentenced him to a minimum life term of 45 years.

Distraught members of Rigby's family said "justice has been served" after the pair were sentenced by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey.

Angry protestors chanted and rallied outside the London court, calling for the two men to get the worst possible punishments.

JUSTICE: Rigby's family attended court in their "Justice for Lee Rigby" t-shirts [GETTY]

“You decided between you, and in order to advance your extremist cause, to murder a soldier in public in broad daylight”

Lord Justice Sweeney

During sentencing in February, the judge told the two Muslim converts at the time that their views had "betrayed Islam".

He said: "You decided between you, and in order to advance your extremist cause, to murder a soldier in public in broad daylight and to do so in a way that would generate maximum media coverage, including getting yourselves killed by armed officers who would be bound to attend the scene in the aftermath of the murder - thereby expecting that you would become martyrs and each gain a place in paradise."

He explained that he sentenced Adebolajo under the new "life means life" ruling because there was no "real prospect of rehabilitation" for him, as evidenced by the murderous plot.